3.20.2 html 818 384 1 true 113 0 false 5 false false R1.htm 0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation Document and Entity Information Cover 1 false false R2.htm 1001000 - Statement - Consolidated income statements Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/StatementOfIncome Consolidated income statements Statements 2 false false R3.htm 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated statements of comprehensive income Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/StatementOfComprehensiveIncome Consolidated statements of comprehensive income Statements 3 false false R4.htm 1003000 - Statement - Consolidated balance sheets Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/BalanceSheet Consolidated balance sheets Statements 4 false false R5.htm 1004000 - Statement - Consolidated statements of changes in equity Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/StatementOfChangesInEquity Consolidated statements of changes in equity Statements 5 false false R6.htm 1005000 - Statement - Consolidated cash flow statements Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/StatementsOfCashFlow Consolidated cash flow statements Statements 6 false false R7.htm 2010100 - Disclosure - Basis of preparation Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureBasisOfPreparationQ Basis of preparation Notes 7 false false R8.htm 2010200 - Disclosure - Selected critical accounting policies Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSelectedCriticalAccountingPoliciesQ Selected critical accounting policies Notes 8 false false R9.htm 2010300 - Disclosure - Significant transactions Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsQ Significant transactions Notes 9 false false R10.htm 2010400 - Disclosure - Summary of equity attributable to Novartis AG shareholders Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSummaryOfEquityToShareholdersQ Summary of equity attributable to Novartis AG shareholders Notes 10 false false R11.htm 2010500 - Disclosure - Financial instruments Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsQ Financial instruments Notes 11 false false R12.htm 2010600 - Disclosure - Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsQ Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows Notes 12 false false R13.htm 2010700 - Disclosure - Acquisition of businesses Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureAcquisitionOfBusinessesQ Acquisition of businesses Notes 13 false false R14.htm 2010800 - Disclosure - Legal proceedings update Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureLegalProceedingsUpdateQ Legal proceedings update Notes 14 false false R15.htm 2010900 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresQ Segmentation of key figures Notes 15 false false R16.htm 2011000 - Disclosure - Discontinued operations Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsQ Discontinued operations Notes 16 false false R17.htm 2011100 - Disclosure - Subsequent events Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSubsequentEventsQ Subsequent events Notes 17 false false R18.htm 2020200 - Disclosure - Selected critical accounting policies (Policies) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSelectedCriticalAccountingPoliciesPoliciesQ Selected critical accounting policies (Policies) Policies 18 false false R19.htm 2030300 - Disclosure - Significant transactions (Tables) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsTablesQ Significant transactions (Tables) Tables http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsQ 19 false false R20.htm 2030400 - Disclosure - Summary of equity attributable to Novartis AG shareholders (Tables) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSummaryOfEquityToShareholdersTablesQ Summary of equity attributable to Novartis AG shareholders (Tables) Tables http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSummaryOfEquityToShareholdersQ 20 false false R21.htm 2030500 - Disclosure - Financial instruments (Tables) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsTablesQ Financial instruments (Tables) Tables http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsQ 21 false false R22.htm 2030600 - Disclosure - Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Tables) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsTablesQ Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Tables) Tables http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsQ 22 false false R23.htm 2030700 - Disclosure - Acquisition of businesses (Tables) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureAcquisitionOfBusinessesTablesQ Acquisition of businesses (Tables) Tables http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureAcquisitionOfBusinessesQ 23 false false R24.htm 2030900 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Tables) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ Segmentation of key figures (Tables) Tables http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresQ 24 false false R25.htm 2031000 - Disclosure - Discontinued operations (Tables) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsTablesQ Discontinued operations (Tables) Tables http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsQ 25 false false R26.htm 2040300 - Disclosure - Significant transactions (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsDetailsQ Significant transactions (Details) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsTablesQ 26 false false R27.htm 2040301 - Disclosure - Significant transactions (Details 2) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsDetails1Q Significant transactions (Details 2) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsTablesQ 27 false false R28.htm 2040302 - Disclosure - Significant transactions (Details 3) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsDetails2Q Significant transactions (Details 3) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSignificantTransactionsTablesQ 28 false false R29.htm 2040400 - Disclosure - Summary of equity attributable to Novartis AG shareholders (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSummaryOfEquityToShareholdersDetailsQ Summary of equity attributable to Novartis AG shareholders (Details) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSummaryOfEquityToShareholdersTablesQ 29 false false R30.htm 2040500 - Disclosure - Financial instruments (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsDetailsQ Financial instruments (Details) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsTablesQ 30 false false R31.htm 2040501 - Disclosure - Financial instruments (Details 2) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsDetails2Q Financial instruments (Details 2) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsTablesQ 31 false false R32.htm 2040502 - Disclosure - Financial instruments (Details 3) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsDetails3Q Financial instruments (Details 3) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsTablesQ 32 false false R33.htm 2040503 - Disclosure - Financial instruments (Details 4) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsDetails4Q Financial instruments (Details 4) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureFinancialInstrumentsTablesQ 33 false false R34.htm 2040600 - Disclosure - Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsDetailsQ Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Details) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsTablesQ 34 false false R35.htm 2040601 - Disclosure - Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Details 2) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsDetails1Q Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Details 2) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsTablesQ 35 false false R36.htm 2040602 - Disclosure - Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Details 3) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsDetails2Q Details to the consolidated statements of cash flows (Details 3) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDetailsConsolidatedStatementsCashFlowsTablesQ 36 false false R37.htm 2040701 - Disclosure - Acquisition of businesses (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureAcquisitionOfBusinessesDetailsQ Acquisition of businesses (Details) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureAcquisitionOfBusinessesTablesQ 37 false false R38.htm 2040800 - Disclosure - Provisions and other non-current liabilities (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureProvisionsAndOtherNonCurrentLiabilitiesDetails1Q Provisions and other non-current liabilities (Details) Details 38 false false R39.htm 2040900 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetailsQ Segmentation of key figures (Details) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 39 false false R40.htm 2040901 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 2) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails2Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 2) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 40 false false R41.htm 2040902 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 3) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails3Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 3) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 41 false false R42.htm 2040903 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 4) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails4Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 4) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 42 false false R43.htm 2040904 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 5) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails5Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 5) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 43 false false R44.htm 2040905 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 6) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails6Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 6) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 44 false false R45.htm 2040906 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 7) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails7Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 7) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 45 false false R46.htm 2040907 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 8) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails8Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 8) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 46 false false R47.htm 2040908 - Disclosure - Segmentation of key figures (Details 9) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresDetails9Q Segmentation of key figures (Details 9) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureSegmentationOfKeyFiguresTablesQ 47 false false R48.htm 2041000 - Disclosure - Discontinued operations (Details) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsDetailsQ Discontinued operations (Details) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsTablesQ 48 false false R49.htm 2041001 - Disclosure - Discontinued operations (Details 2) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsDetails1Q Discontinued operations (Details 2) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsTablesQ 49 false false R50.htm 2041002 - Disclosure - Discontinued operations (Details 3) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsDetails2Q Discontinued operations (Details 3) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsTablesQ 50 false false R51.htm 2041003 - Disclosure - Discontinued operations (Details 4) Sheet http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsDetails3Q Discontinued operations (Details 4) Details http://novartis.com/20200630/role/DisclosureDiscontinuedOperationsTablesQ 51 false false All Reports Book All Reports nvs-20200630.xml nvs-20200630.xsd nvs-20200630_cal.xml nvs-20200630_def.xml nvs-20200630_lab.xml nvs-20200630_pre.xml http://xbrl.ifrs.org/taxonomy/2019-03-27/ifrs-full http://fasb.org/srt/2019-01-31 http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31 http://xbrl.sec.gov/country/2017-01-31 true true