Does informal care impact the use of healthcare services in China? Evidence from the perspective of drug utilization

Based on the 2011–2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we investigated the effect of informal care on caregivers’ utilization of medical drugs using the instrumental variable method with fixed effects. Our results indicate that caregivers are more likely to take medical drugs than non-caregivers. Additionally, caregivers tend to take a significantly higher number of drugs than non-caregivers, particularly those treating physical diseases. Moreover, the effect of informal care on the drug utilization is found more significant among those aged 45–54, male caregivers, and those who provide care for their parents-in-law compared to their respective counterparts. We further identified channels through which informal care contributes to caregivers’ higher drug utilization. These channels include an increased risk of developing chronic diseases, a higher number of chronic diseases, lower their self-reported health, and reduced social activities. These results offer implications for policymakers in overcoming the challenges of establishing and developing a supportive system for informal care in China.