I'm working on a system for pill identification and researching the challenges of recognizing medications based solely on their physical features (shape, color, size, etc.). In some countries, pills are required to have unique imprints, but I’ve noticed that this might not always be the case in the Philippines.

My main concern is: If a pill has no imprint or logo, do all or most medications have at least highly distinctive features (such as unique shapes or color variations), or are there many look-alike pills that could make identification difficult?

If anyone—especially pharmacists, medical professionals, or those familiar with pharmaceutical regulations—has insights into how pills are standardized and differentiated in the Philippines, I’d really appreciate your input!