v3.10.0.1
Other (Income)/Deductions - Net - Footnotes - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Jul. 03, 2016
Apr. 03, 2016
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Nov. 10, 2017
Oct. 01, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       $ 3,103 $ 337 $ 869      
Other asset impairment charges       13          
Equity method investment, other than temporary impairment $ 241 $ 130 $ 81     452      
Operating Segments [Member] | Essential Health Segment [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           840      
Operating Segments [Member] | Innovative Health Segment [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           29      
In Process Research and Development [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments [1]       214          
In Process Research and Development [Member] | Multi-Antigen Vaccine For Spinal Fusion Surgery [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       117          
In Process Research and Development [Member] | Hospira [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           265      
In Process Research and Development [Member] | InnoPharma [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           128      
Other In Process Research and Development [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           110      
Other In Process Research and Development [Member] | Hospira [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           81      
Other In Process Research and Development [Member] | InnoPharma [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       17          
Other In Process Research and Development [Member] | King [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           29      
AM Pharma BV [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Impairment of investment         $ 43        
Hisun Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Equity method investment, other than temporary impairment           $ 452      
Equity method investment, ownership percentage 49.00%       49.00% 49.00% 49.00%    
Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Equity method investment, other than temporary impairment           $ 50      
Equity method investment, ownership percentage 40.00%         40.00%   40.00% 40.00%
Developed Technology Rights [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       2,647 [1] $ 20        
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Hospira [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments           $ 366      
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Hospira [Member] | Generic Sterile Injectable Product [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments         127        
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Hospira [Member] | Sterile Injectable Pain Reliever [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments         124        
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Hospira [Member] | Generic Injectable Pain Reliever [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments         26        
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | NextWave [Member] | Treatment Of Attention Hyperactivity Disorder [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments         $ 39        
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Essential Health Segment [Member] | Hospira [Member] | Generic Sterile Injectable Product [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       2,600          
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Innovative Health Segment [Member] | Anacor [Member] | Treatment For Toenail Fungus [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       31          
Licensing Agreements [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Essential Health Segment [Member] | Hospira [Member] | Generic Sterile Injectable Product [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       242          
In Process Research and Development [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | Essential Health Segment [Member] | Hospira [Member] | Generic Sterile Injectable Product [Member]                  
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Line Items]                  
Intangible asset impairments       $ 80          
[1] Reflects intangible assets written down to fair value in 2018. Fair value was determined using the income approach, specifically the multi-period excess earnings method, also known as the discounted cash flow method. We started with a forecast of all the expected net cash flows associated with the asset and then applied an asset-specific discount rate to arrive at a net present value amount. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions inherent in this approach include: the amount and timing of the projected net cash flows, which includes the expected impact of competitive, legal and/or regulatory forces on the product; the discount rate, which seeks to reflect the various risks inherent in the projected cash flows; and the tax rate, which seeks to incorporate the geographic diversity of the projected cash flows.