SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,664	$ 2,152	$ 3,676	$ 4,168
Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	783	1,018	1,720	1,986
Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	262	432	654	836
OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	318	367	669	691
Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	274	305	580	598
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	27	30	53	57
Bausch + Lomb/ International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	883	1,208	1,997	2,326
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	151	235	352	452
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	220	387	561	753
Bausch + Lomb/ International | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	318	367	669	691
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	175	194	378	385
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	19	25	37	45
Salix
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	404	509	881	954
Salix | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	403	509	880	954
Salix | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1	0	1	0
Ortho Dermatologics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	116	122	249	260
Ortho Dermatologics | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	71	75	148	170
Ortho Dermatologics | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	42	45	93	83
Ortho Dermatologics | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	3	2	8	7
Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	261	313	549	628
Diversified Products | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	158	199	340	410
Diversified Products | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Diversified Products | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Diversified Products | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	99	111	202	213
Diversified Products | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 4	$ 3	$ 7	$ 5