Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk - Reconciliation of Contingent Consideration Assets Measured and Recorded at Fair Value (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 36,582	$ 76,409	$ 0	$ 0
Transfer to Accounts Receivable	(9,989)	(3,956)
Settlements	(28,059)	(38,693)
Fair value change in contingent consideration	1,466	2,822
Ending balance	0	36,582	0	0
QLT USA and Eligard [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Beginning balance	36,582	71,195	0	0
Transfer to Accounts Receivable	(9,989)	0
Settlements	(28,059)	(38,693)
Fair value change in contingent consideration	1,466	4,080
Ending balance	0	36,582	0	0
Visudyne [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Beginning balance	0	5,214	0	0
Transfer to Accounts Receivable	0	(3,956)
Settlements	0	0
Fair value change in contingent consideration	0	(1,258)
Ending balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0